Roguelike Radio Episode 160: Science Fiction
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Feb 4, 2025 Explore the fascinating intersection of science fiction and roguelikes. Hear insights on defining sci-fi in games and the diversity of sci-fi roguelikes compared to fantasy. The hosts debate hard vs soft sci-fi and the implications of science-driven design. Discover how systems and procedural generation mimic scientific exploration. They tackle ethical dilemmas in gameplay, the importance of UI in explaining complex mechanics, and the challenges of designing realistic space environments. Plus, get inspired by potential sci-fi adaptations for the genre!
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From Childhood Writing To Hardcore Sci‑Fi Design
- Darren Grey describes writing from childhood and publishing a short story inspired by Eve Online presentations.
- He then transitioned into board and tabletop design, leading to over a million words of hard sci-fi work.
Published Sci‑Fi Writer And Roguelike Maker
- Andrew Doull shares his published sci-fi short stories and writing for Elite Dangerous and Fallout London.
- He also builds sci-fi Seven Day Roguelikes and highlights their unique design challenges.
Sci‑Fi As An Experimental Thought Process
- Science fiction can be seen as conducting an experiment by breaking one rule and exploring consequences.
- Roguelikes naturally fit that because players discover rules via procedural systems and test hypotheses.
